Sonny

Meaning of Sonny

Means "son"; also implies brightness or cheerfulness.

Sonny has English roots — browse every English baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Sonny

Sonny is more popular than ever, reaching a new high of #298 in 2025 from #868 in 2000.

Notable people named Sonny

• Sonny Bono
  Singer, songwriter, politician
• Sonny Rollins
  Influential jazz saxophonist
• Sonny Liston
  Former world heavyweight champion
• Sonny Vaccaro
  Sports marketing executive
• Sonny Bill Williams
  Professional rugby player, boxer

More English names

Questions about the name Sonny

What does the name Sonny mean?

Sonny means means "son"; also implies brightness or cheerfulness, and it comes from English origins.

Is Sonny a boy's or a girl's name?

Sonny is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Sonny?

In 2025, Sonny ranked #298 for boys, up from #335 the year before.

When was Sonny most popular?

Sonny peaked at #298 in 2025.